Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-12


/ ance or OF running away. IN fact their
| embarrassment Is so ridiculous that it
proVokes a'smtle, and il is with anything
put threatening or angry voice that l
BID them 'haid, y Inc bold highwaymen
seem only too glad of a chance to 'haidy,'
and they look confused, and fancy even
ashamed OF themselves as they betake
themselves off up the ravine am quite
as thankful as themselves ar getting of
without the necessity OF using my re-
volver, for mad killed or wounded one it
would have caused me no end OF trouble
and delay. Moreover, these fellows some
mes do desperate work with their ugly
and ever handy swords when cornered
up, In proof OF which we nave the late
dastardly assault upon the British Consul
at ErZeroum."
Mr.. Stevens was. generally speaking,
treated with much consideration in Per-
STA, both by the mobiles and the common
people, the exceptions generally arising
from the conduct of natives OF other races
Than the Persian. Upon several occa-
sions the wild koordsh shepherds at
tempted to interfere with MS progress, as.
saulting him with clubs and stones, and
even swords, but display of the little re-
VolVer was always effective in making
them take themselves out of the way.
Mr.. Stevens made his grand entry into
the Shah's capital OF Teheran at O'Clock
upon Sept. 81 last, up to which time he
had Travelled a distance CT 4,076 miles
since leaving Liverpool upon May 2, hav-
Ing, therefore, been five months, lacking
two days, upon the road-certainly in
Itself most remarkable trip.
At the little walled village OF HOussen-
oegkhan also The traveller had something
OF an adventure. He was conducted into
a large apartment of the caravansary,
which he found already occupied by three
other wayfarers, who from their outward
appearance might well be taken for cut
thrOats OF the very worst description. All
about them lay vast assortment OF
arms ana warliKe accoutrements of varl-
Gus klnds-swords, daggers and pistols
compared with which Mr.. Stevens
modest little revolver looked very in
significant indeed. PresumIng upon his
apparent inability to defend himself, the
travellers soon began to manifest desire
to annoy him in every manner possible,
assuming to believe that he was
Russian, though he had already an
nounced himself as ''lnglIs." The
most reckless of the three finally stole up
behind and began playing a tattoo on Mr..
Stevens sunhelmet with two pieces of
wood, evidently anxious to show as much
contempt as possible for a subject of the
Car. stevens speedily convinced him of
his mistake, however, by taking one of
the sticks away and giving him such
dressing down with 1t that he howled
wildly and called upon Allan to protect
him. Then the other travellers solemnly
aVowed themselves the "brothers" of the
adventurous traveller, and signlted wish
to live or die witn him, and even The mau
who had been thrashed, as soon as tne
smart of his chastisement died away, also
do 70 no 6ad a ha lo,,
OF Stevens newly found fraternal rela-
tives.
Leaving Erzeroum, Mr.. Stevens passed
on to the Turkish frontier and entered
Persia. He found the people peaceable
enough here, but strongly inclined to all
manner of petty tricks and receptions.
One circumstance which excited his at
tention and interest was the enormous
number of princes, all Of the blood royal
apparently, whom he came in con-
tact with. This arises from the fact that
every descendant of the royal line, no
matter how manysgenerations intervene,
retains ais rank and title as prince,
though many Of them occupy positions as
telegraph agente, ETC., at salaries rang.
ing from $40 month up.
After short stay at the Persian capt.
tai, during which be had an audience
with His Majesty the Shah, and was made
much of by the high dignitaries of the
empire, as well as by the European resi-
dents there, Mr.. Stevens proceeded ON
his journey, passing into Atghanstan.
Here he encountered his first serious diff
fculty, being arrested at Farrah, half
way between Rerat aud Kandahar, by
an Afghan chief, and compelled to return
first to Herat aud aiterward across the
line InIO Persia. he could not persuade
his Afghan captOrs, VINO, nevertheless,
treated MIN kindly. that ne was travelling
with no political objectln view whatever.
Returning to the Caspian, be went by
rail and steamer to COnstantinople and
Kurraohee, alterward traversing La
hOre, Delhi, agra and CaWnpore, until
he arrived at Calcutta, where he took
passage by steamer for Hong Kong.
From thence BE proceeded to Canton,
where he again had recourse to the bicy-
Gle, but found it practically useless, and
was finally compelled TO take TO n sam
pan, or river boat, owing TO the almost
toJal absence Of passaDle roads.
To add to the discomfort which this Cir
cumstance caused him, when ne reached
Kan rchon-Foo the natives proved vio-
lentlv hostile, assembling In a mob and
attacking him with stones and clubs so
saVagely that he narrowly escaped with
his lite. But for the protection which
few soldiers gave MIN until ne could
reach the dwelling OF a MAGISTRATE, it is
altogether likely that he would have been
ruthlessly murdered. The people crowd
ed about the house by hundreds, shout-
ing, xii the foreign devilv and endeav-
oring also 10 smash the bicycle, which
was slightly injured. The MAGISTRATE is.
sued proclamation after. proclamation,
and it was only after great personal ex-
ertion upon his part that the mob was at
last induced to dispense. AS it was, Mr..
Stevens did not escape without several
severe bruises about the face and head.
Leaving the town where he had expe-
rienced such rough treatment, Mr., Stew
ems made the best OF his way to Shanghai,
whence he afterward proceeded to Japan,
preliminary to sailing for this city.